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Ahead, EW’s picks for best middle grade books of the year.

9.The Secret Keepersby Trenton Lee Stewart

The author ofThe Mysterious Benedict Societyreturns with another puzzle-filled adventure.

GALLERY: Best Middle Grade Books of the Year: ALL CROPS Image Tout

Both vow and slowly work to make their way back to one another.

But this is no ordinary tale of a kid reuniting with their pet.

Rozzum unit 7134) growth as an individual and later, as a parent.

GALLERY: Best Middle Grade Books of the Year: Isabel Feeney, Star Reporter by Beth Fantaskey The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd Friday Barnes, Girl Detective by R.A. Spratt

ItsThe Iron Giantfor a new generation.Nivea Serrao

OrderThe Wild Robothere.

However, the gradual intricacy of the story that is not Gidwitzs big accomplishment.

Rather it is the complex themes (xenophobia, zealotry, censorship etc.)

GALLERY: Best Middle Grade Books of the Year: Gravity Falls: Journal 3 by Alex Hirsch

(Also, there is a farting dragon.

)Nivea Serrao

OrderThe Inquisitors Talehere.

1.Impyriumby Henry H. Neff

Magic reigns supreme, even in a world where its fading.

GALLERY: Best Middle Grade Books of the Year: The Best Man by Richard Peck

GALLERY: Best Middle Grade Books of the Year: The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart

GALLERY: Best Middle Grade Books of the Year: The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

GALLERY: Best Middle Grade Books of the Year: Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

GALLERY: Best Middle Grade Books of the Year: Pax by Sara Pennypacker and Jon Klassen

GALLERY: Best Middle Grade Books of the Year: Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo

GALLERY: Best Middle Grade Books of the Year: The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

GALLERY: Best Middle Grade Books of the Year: The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz and Hatem Aly

GALLERY: Best Middle Grade Books of the Year: Ghost by Jason Reynolds

GALLERY: Best Middle Grade Books of the Year: Impyrium by Henry H. Neff